August 1, 2025: With the Coastal Road promenade fully constructed but yet to receive a formal inauguration date, residents living along the coastline of South Mumbai are preparing for an anticipated spike in traffic and parking issues. On Thursday, representatives from the Breach Candy Residents’ Forum (BCRF), Nepean Sea Road Citizens Forum (NRCF), and Worli residents met with Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Anil Kumbhare, to discuss potential mitigation strategies.
“As soon as the promenade opens to the public — and later when green spaces on the reclaimed land are ready — traffic will inundate our area,” said Nigum Lakhani, a member of BCRF. “There’s already a severe shortage of parking.”
Residents expressed some relief upon learning that parking would be strictly prohibited along the promenade — a challenge that continues to plague Marine Drive. “We’ve already put up signs and issued notifications. Vehicles found parking along the promenade will be fined,” confirmed Kumbhare. “For now, we are restricting any vehicle stoppage in that zone.”
The BCRF also requested that space being vacated post-Coastal Road construction be temporarily used for resident parking. This proposal, raised with local MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha, was denied — though residents say they will continue pursuing it. They noted that hospital visitors and doctors at Candy Hospital add further strain to the limited parking in Breach Candy.
Worli residents anticipate their area becoming a regular stop on the Mumbai Darshan circuit, with visitors expected to halt for photographs. “There are underpasses planned for access here. Unfortunately, speeding vehicles — especially on Sunday mornings — are already a concern,” said resident Viren Shah.
Meanwhile, Nepean Sea Road locals expressed frustration over being denied access to the promenade altogether, despite repeated requests through the MSRDC land near Priyadarshini Park — a proposal that remains stalled.
Source: Hindustan Times
